Tube or rod gauging apparatus



Oct. 2, 1956 A. F. CASLER ETAL TUBE 0R ROD GAUGING APPARATUS 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 31, 1952 Invewkovs: Advien F. Castev,

Cuwtis D. Spica,

jobev s zC an PieLd,

a%.. Their A t kofneg.

Oct. 2, 1956 A. F. CASLER EI'AL TUBE OR ROD swam; APPARATUS 5Sheets-Sheer, 2

Filed Dec. 51, 1952 Invenfiors: Adrien "F. CasLev, Curtis D. Spicev,

Robe1-k Can FieLd,

Oct. 2, 1956 A. F. CASLER ETAL TUBE OR ROD GAUGING APPARATUS 5sneaks-sheet 3 Filed D80. 51, 1952 r d uJ v a wcqm m w TFD M wns a b-Tfihfiw w A R UQ b O w w Oct. 2, 1956 A. F. CASLER ETAL TUBE OR ROD GAUGINGAPPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 lnveyvtor's. Adrien F. Castev, Cur-l7is D.Spicer, Robert CEiTTF'EBLd Their A k tovne q.

Filed Dec. 31, 1.952

Oct. 2, 1956 Filed Dec. 31, 1952 A. F. CASLER ET AL TUBE OR ROD GAUGINGAPPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 lnven borsz Advien E Caster, CUFCHS D.Spicer, Robevt Can FieLd,

Their- A t bovneg.

United States Patent TUBE 0R ROD GAUGING APPARATUS Adrien F. Casler,Chardon, Curtis D. Spicer, Beechwood,

and Robert H. Canfield, Euclid, Ohio, assignors to General ElectricCompany, a corporation of New York Application December 31, 1952, SerialNo. 329,058

3 Claims. (61. 209-88) Our invention relates to apparatus for gaugingtubes or rods, and more particularly to automatic apparatus for gaugingthe outside diameter of glass tubes or rods and sorting them into groupsof corresponding size. The gauging function of the apparatus includesthe determination of excess taper in the tubes or rods without regard tothe size thereof, and the segregation of those tubes or rods determinedto have excess taper. For convenience, the tubes or rods willhereinafter be referred to simply as tubes.

The glass tubes used in the high speed automatic manufacture of lampsand other glass containing articles must be uniform within rather narrowlimits. Accordingly, such glass tubes are classified into groups ofcommon limited size range capable of being used successfully upon properadjustment of the manufacturing apparatus for the different groups, andto that end high speed gauging and sorting apparatus have beendeveloped. Difficulty has been experienced in the use of such prior artgauging and sorting apparatus in certain instances because of a lack ofthe required degree of accuracy and because of excessive maintenance ofthe apparatus. Another objection was unsatisfactory operation of theapparatus occasioned by high operating speeds and by taper in the tubes.

An object of our invention is to provide automatically operatedapparatus for sorting glass tubes into groups of a relatively limitedrange of outside diameters and taper. The apparatus must also be capableof operating at high speed in a satisfactory manner without repeatedreadjustment and repairs.

Another object of our invention is to provide gauging apparatus adaptedto determine taper in tubes by a direct comparison of the outsidediameter of selected portions of the tubes and without regard to theactual size thereof. A further aspect of this object is to provideapparatus for making determinations of taper in the tubes by comparingthe sizes of a plurality of portions thereof, and preferably to make thecomparison at the same portions of the tube as those engaged by sizegauging means. This latter feature of the taper gauging apparatus causesit to reject those tubes which could not be classified in any one sizegroup by the size gauging means and accordingly prevents such tubes frominterfering with the operation of said size gauging means. Furtheradvantages to the ganging apparatus appear when said measurements aremade of portions of the tubes critical to the use thereof, as forinstance to portions of tubular fluorescent lamp envelopes which are tobe scaled to stems.

Another object of our invention is to provide a gauging and sortingmachine which is not readily damaged by broken glass and not subject tofalse determinations effected by vibration and distortion in the frameportion thereof. Broken glass is invariably present in and around amachine of this type and special provisions must be provided to preventit from effecting rapid wear with consequent improper operation of thegauge blocks and the working parts thereof.

2,765,076 Patented Oct. 2, 1956 "ice A particularly advantageous form ofmachine constructed according to our invention provides for the advanceof tubes to gauging means located along a path by a conveyor preferablycomprised of three endless chains arranged to engage spaced portions ofsaid tubes and ad- Vance them laterally along said path. The tubes areintroduced into pockets in the conveyor at a point near the base of anupwardly directed run or leg thereof comprising the front face of themachine by suitable means such as a rotatable notched drum and aregauged in the course of the further movement of the conveyor upward inthe front face and then downward in the back face thereof. Rejectingmeans adjacent each of the gauging means in both faces of the machineforce from the conveyor those tubes determined to be within the sizerange selected by said gauging means and result in tubes ofcorresponding size characteristics being collected at stations alongboth faces thereof.

Each gauging means comprises stationary and movable gauge blocks locatedupon respective sides of the path of movement of the tubes, andindependent means, separate from the frame of the machine, formaintaining cooperating stationary and movable blocks at the properrelation to each other. In certain instances, it has been founddesirable to mount the movable gauge blocks by means of flexible metalstraps or bands permitting the desired degree of movement of the gaugeblocks without interference from broken glass. It has also been founddesirable to make both movable and stationary gauge blocks of arelatively hard synthetic plastic compound which sheds glass dust,presumably because of the electrical charge it asarranged along theconveyor in a manner whereby the end portions of the tubes first passbetween cooperating pairs of blocks adjusted to engage oversize endportions and then pass into engagement with associated means foreffecting the rejection of tubes found to be oversize. Next in thecourse of movement of the conveyor are three gauges of the taper gaugingmeans which are arranged in succession along said course and whichdetermine excessive variation in size between two specific portions ofthe tubes. All three taper gauges effect the rejection of excessivelytapering tubes at a station following the taper gauging means. Thecomparison of size of the said portions of the tubes is made bycooperating pairs of gauge blocks; however, each gauge is arranged tocompare portions of a tube different from those compared by the twoother gauges. One gauge compares one of the critical end portions and acenter portion of the tubes, another gauge compares both critical endportions of the tubes, and a third gauge compares thecenter portion andthe critical end portion other than that engaged by the first-mentionedgauge. All three gauges of the taper gauging means are mounted upon arigid subframe and are, accordingly, free from the effects of flexureand misalignment of the main frame of the machine, and may, if desired,be taken to a work bench for adjustment. A

' series of six size gauging means of like construction are and from thedrawing.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a tube gauging machine comprising ourinvention.

Fig. 2 is a substantially horizontal section through the upwardly movingleg or run of the tube conveyor comprising one face of the tube gaugingmachine, said section being taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1 andshowing the oversize gauge means of said machine.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the gauges of the oversize gaugemeans and an adjacent conveyor portion.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the control switches of the oversizegauging means, the time delay device and the rejection means controlledby said oversize gauge means.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one pair of gauge blocks of the tapergauging means.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the taper gauging means.

Fig. 7 is a substantially horizontal section through the end portion ofthe taper gauging means opposite the first or half span gauge along thecourse of movement of the conveyor and along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the actuating and size comparing meansassociated with the first half span gauge of the taper gauging means.

Fig. 9 is an upward view of the taper gauging means with the beams ofthe first half span gauge and'the adjacent portion of the conveyorbroken therefrom to show the beams of the full span gauge.

Fig. 10 is a substantially horizontal section through the downwardmoving leg of the tube conveyor comprising the back face of the machine,said section being taken along line 1010 of Fig. 1 and showing one ofthe size gauge means associated with said face.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a size gauge in operative relation to atube portion.

The tube gauging machine shown in the drawing is a self-operated unitrequiring only that the glass tubes 1 to be gauged be introduced thereinat station A and that the tubes 1 of a particular size be taken from therespective collection stations B to I inclusive along the upward anddownward moving legs or runs of a conveyor 2. The tubes 1, which in aparticular case may be 48 inches long, and which have a diameter rangewithin that usually encountered in drawing a single nominal size ofglass tubing, are placed upon the moving belt 3 of feeding means 4 atstation A. The belt 3 and other portions of the feeding means providefor individual tubes 1 to be introduced in each of a regular successionofpockets 5 on the three moving chains 6 (Figs. 1 and 2) comprising theconveyor 2, which chains 6 are located at spaced intervals along therelatively broad face of the apparatus. The tubes 1 are placed in alower portion of the upwardly moving leg of the conveyor 2 and, in theregular course of its movement, are carried between the rollers 7 and 8of gauging means adjusted to determine if said tubes 1 are larger thanthe maximum size rangeto be selected. The oversize gauge means makescontact with portions of the tubes 1 adjacent both ends thereof and, onthe basis of its findings, causes those tubes 1 containing portions ofgreater than a nominal size to be pushed from the conveyor2 at station.13 so that such oversize tubes roll down the incline 9 and collect atone location adjacent the machine.

Thenext gauging function of the machine occurs further along the upwardmoving leg of the conveyor 2 where the tubes 1 pass in successionbetween cooperating gauge blocks 10 and 11 of the gauges of the tapergauging means and, on the basis of a comparison of portions of eachtube, determine if said tube tapers excessively. The determinations aremade, in the instance of each gauge, by two cooperating pairs of gaugeblocks 10 and 11 located to engage spaced portions of the tube 1 at oneof the three gauging positions shown in Fig. 1. As indicated inFig. 6,the taper gauging means effects a comparison, first, be-

tween one end portion and the center of the tube, then between said endportion and an opposite end portion and then, finally, between thecenter and the last-mentioned end portion of the tube. Such tubes 1 asare found to taper excessively by any of the comparisons remain in theconveyor 2 until the motion thereof carries the tubes to station C,whereupon said tubes are pushed onto the incline 12 and roll tocollecting means (not shown).

The separation of the tubes 1 into limited size ranges takes placeduring the following movements of the conveyor 2 when said conveyor andsaid tubes have passed around the top of the machine and are carriedalong the downwardly moving leg thereof. The tubes 1 at such times passsuccesively into operative relation to pairs of gauge blocks 13 and 14of corresponding gauging means which are adjusted to find successivelysmaller sizes of the tubes and which effect the discharge of those tubesfound to be larger than said sizes onto the adjacent inclines 15 at thestations D, E, F, G, H and 1. Each gauging means is comprised of a pairof gauges simultaneously contacting opposite end portions of the tubes 1as shown in Fig. 10 and will, through the cooperative function of saidgauges, effect the selection of a limited size range of the tubes 1because of its association with the other gauging means of the machine.The six size ranges selected by the means along the downwardly movingleg of the conveyor 2 represent the acceptable tubs 1 segregated by themachine. Those tubes 1 which may be still smaller in size are droppedfrom the conveyor 2 in the course of its movement across the bottom ofthe machine.

The details of the various portions of the illustrated gauging machinewill now be described, beginning with the feeding means associated withthe introduction of the tubes 1 into the conveyor 2. The tubes 1 areplaced on the moving belt 3 of the feeding means and are moved into themachine by the motion of the belt. The function of the moving belt 3 isto advance the tubes 1 against the peripheries of a pair of drums 16(only one being shown) each interposed between adjacent ones of thethree chains 6 spaced across the face of the machine and making up theconveyor 2, so that the synchronized rotation of said drums 16 withrespect to the movement of the chains 6 causes single tubes 1 to becaught in the pockets 17 in said drums and advanced to positions to bepicked up by the pockets 5 in said chains 6. Each pocket 17 within thedrums 16 is only large enough to hold a single tube 1 and will,accordingly, select one of said tubes 1 from the plurality on the belt3. The drums 16 are both mounted upon the shaft. 18 extending betweencorresponding bearing blocks 19 on the frame portions 20 at oppositeends of the machine. The rate of rotation of the drums, 16 is such as tocarry a tube 1 into each of the pockets Sin the chains 6 which, in turn,lift said tube 1 fromthe pockets 17 in the drums 16. The drums 16 andconveyor chains 6 extend around sprockets 21, 22 and 23 on thetriangularly arranged shafts 24, 25 and 26 at the lower corners and topof the end frame portions 20, and

. the synchronized movements of said drums and chains are produced by acommon drive means for both. Said drive means comprise a chain indicatedat 27 and passing around the. sprocket 28 upon shaft 18, the sprocket 29upon shaft 24 and the other sprockets 30, 31 and 32 on shafts 33,

34 and .35, respectively, projecting beyond the near or proximateportion of the frame 20 in Fig. 1. An electric motor 36operating shaft34 and sprocket 31 through the speed reducer 37 in a conventional manneris the source of the operating force for the chain 27, the mainoperating source of all portions of the machine.

Alternate pockets 5 on conveyor 2 are defined by U-shaped bracketportions 5' (Fig. 3), and intermediate .pockets by flat pad portions 6combined with the proximate legs of said bracket portions 5 on alternatelinks of 7 each of the three chains 6. Because of the inclination ofsaid chains 6, the tubes 1 roll to the portions of the portion of thelinks.

greases pockets which are lowermost and adjacent the connected Themoderate inclination of the chains 6 is sufiicient to keep the tubes 1within the pockets 5 inasmuch as said chains 6 are held in positionduring the course of their movement adjacent the feeding means and thefirst gauging means by the pressure of the rollers of the chains 6against the guides 41 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) and are accordingly preventedfrom being deflected out of position. The guides 41 also direct thechains 6 so that the opposite ends of the tube 1 pass between therollers 7 and 8 of the duplicate gauges comprising said first gaugemeans. The relative positions of the gauge means and the guides 41 aresuch that the rollers 8, which have a fixed position, lift the tubes 1from the bases of the pockets 5 in the conveyor 2 and, accordingly,prevent said conveyor 2 from holding said tubes 1 at positions todeflect the movable roller 7 and effect a false determination of sizethereby.

The rollers 7 and 8 of each gauge of the gauging means are arranged torovide separate determinations as to the sizes of the respective endportions of the tubes 1 engaged thereby and, in the present instance,determine if either -or both of said end portions are larger than themaximum of the size groups to be selected by the machine. The tubes 1are determined to be oversize by either gauge when the roller 7 thereof,which is rotatably mounted upon a stud 42 (Fig. 3) at one end of a beam43, is pushed out from its normal spaced relation to the fixed roller 8and said beam 43 is swung about the pin 44 retained by the extending endof the adjustable slide 45. The beam 43 normally holds the roller 7 at aspaced relation to the fixed roller 8 allowing all but oversize tubes 1to pass therebetween without touching it. The expansion force of ahelical spring 46 located between a lateral projection 47 of the slideand nuts 48 upon a stud 49 extending through said projection 47 to thebeam 43 keeps said beam 43 tilted against the end of the stop screw 50on said projection 47 at which position the roller 7 is at the properrelation to roller 8. The only effective function of the oversizegauging means will occur when one or both end portions of the tube 1 isof a size to deflect the roller 7 and will cause the totally enclosedswitch 51 on the opposite end of the beam 43 therefrom to move away fromthe end of control screw 52 on the projection 47 so that an electricalcircuit is completed through said switch 51. This function will, asimmediately hereinafter described, subsequently effect the ejection ofthe oversize tube 1 at station B further along the conveyor 2.

A feature of the oversize gauging means and the taper gauging meansfurther along the course of movement of the conveyor 2 is the manner bywhich they are mounted completely independently of the frame 20 of themachine and are therefore unaffected'by any misalignment, deflection andvariations in said frame 20 as is normally experienced because of thelarge size and conditions under which said machine is used. The oversizegauging means, for instance, has the fixed rollers 8 of both gauges onthe mounting studs 53 retained by blocks 54 attached to two tie bars 55of a sub-frame which includes the three heavy and, therefore, rigidchannel beams 56 extending across the full face of the machine atpositions adjacent the tie-in columns 57, the transverse angle bars 58along the top and bottom of the end beams 56 and said tie-in columns 57.The movable rollers 7 of the oversize gauging means, on the other hand,are mounted upon the sub-frame by means of the slides 45 which arelocated within ways in blocks 59 carried by a rigid bar 60 on the outerends of the lowermost tie-in columns 57 thereof. The only fixedconnection between the sub- 7 frame and the frame of the machine is twobolts 61 .(indicated in Figs. 6 and 7) which fasten the uppermostchannel beam 56 to the edges of the frame portions 20 at opposite endsof the machine. The mounting for the oversize gauging means also hasincorporated therein means for permitting it to be adjusted to suit theover- 45 and the adjusting screw 62 which is held by a lip 63 on theblock 59 and which moves said slide 45 within ways in said block 59 whenscrewed in or out.

The rejection of the oversize tube 1 from the conveyor 2 does not occuruntil said conveyor 2 has advanced said tube from engagement with theoversize gauging means and arranged it at station B at a positionopposite the incline 9. This manner of operation requires that theelectrical signal made by the actuation of one or the other of theswitches 51 of the oversize gauging means be retained until such time asthe conveyor 2 has advanced the oversize tube 1 to station B and, tothis end as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4, is effected by firstcausing said electrical signal to register in the time delay device 65and then causing said time delay device 65 to actuate the tube rejectingmeans opposite said station B at the proper interval. As shown in Fig. 4the switches 51 are connected in parallel in a circuit to the timedelay, or so-called memory, device 65 which may be one of the commercialproducts for this purpose or the type device disclosed in A. F. Casleret al. application Serial No. 274,622, filed March 3, 1952. The timedelay device 65 shown is both operated and synchronized with theoperation of the machine by the movement of the driving chain 27 thereofwhich engages the sprocket 30 on a shaft 33 extending beyond one endthereof and the end portion '20 of the frame. At the proper interval,the time delay device completes an electrical circuit to the solenoidvalve 66 so as to shift the control cylinder 67 thereof so that thecompressed air source represented by pipe 68 is connected through atransverse passage therein to the piping 69 leading to the air cylinder70 which is the actuating source for the tube rejecting means. Theeffect of the operation of the air cylinder 70 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) is tohave the push rod 71 thereof cause a partial rotation of a shaft 72,which extends across the face of the machine, by its engagement with thearm 73 thereon and, in so doing, swing the fingers 74 at opposite endsof the shaft 72 against and into the path of movement of the oversizetube 1 so that said oversize tube is pushed from the pockets 5 of theconveyor chains 6. When the period of operation has passed, the timedelay device 65 breaks the circuit to the solenoid valve 66 and theexpansion force of the helical spring 75 thereof pushes the controlcylinder 67 so that the transverse passage therein vents the piping 69from the air cylinder 70 to the atmosphere through the bleeder opening76. Under these conditions, the helical spring 77 returns the piston andthe push rod 71 of the air cylinder 76 to their original position andthe helical spring 78 (Fig. 2), which is connected between postsextending beyond the shaft 72 and one of the two brackets 79 holdingsaid shaft 72 beyond the beam 56, turns said shaft 72 so as to retractthe fingers 74 from the path of movement of the tubes 1. The oversizetubes 1 roll down the incline 9 to collecting means (not shown) whichpermit their ready removal from the area of the machine.

The next gauging operations to be applied to those tubes 1 carriedfurther through the machine by the conveyor 2 are a series of threetaper gauging operations comparing the size of various portions of saidtubes and, upon the basis of this comparison, effecting the rejection ofthose which taper excessively. The taper gauging means is a closelyarranged grouping of three corresponding gauges located along the courseof movement of the conveyor 2 and comprising pairs of opposed gaugeblocks 10 and 11. The three gauges which operate simultaneously engagethe three tubes 1 in alternate pockets 5 along one portion of saidconveyor 2. The tube 1 is first examined by a half-span gauge comparingone of the previously gauged end portions thereof and a middle portion,then by a full-span gauge comparing both previously gauged end portionsthereof and, finally, another halfforttheir arrangement in theapparatus. gauge blocks 10, on the other hand, are bolted to thethereto.

'tion of said tube 1 adjacent the middle chain '6 thereof and, to thisend, has duplicated pairs of movable and stationary gauge blocks 10 and,11 atthe spaced relation of said portions and said chains 6. Both gaugeblocks '10 and 11 of the pair comprising each of the three gauges.ofthetaper gauging means are, in'-this particular instance, made ofa'relativelyhard resinous synthetic plastic, as

"for example that marketed under the name T extolite as composition 'No.l398ywhichytends to shed glass dust,

it isbelieved,-because of the'static charge it assumes and whichresists'to *a high 'degreethe wear caused by sharp glass particles.The-stationary gauge blocks 11 in both :instances are clamped directlyto mounting blocks 80 (Figs. and 7) by the action of claws 181 atopposite ;ends thereof and depend upon the position said mounting blocks80 are bolted to the upstanding ,rails 82 and 83 on the tie bars 55 and55' respectively,,of the sub frame The movable -outer ends ofsubstantially end-to-end arranged beams or levers 84 and 84' which areretained by flexible metal bands 85 and 85', respectively, extendingfrom the fixed channel member 86 of the sub-frame and which are held atpositions determined by actuating means operating *through respectivestraps 87 and 87 (Fig. '8) attached :and 85' in V form and which fastenthem to the beams 84 'and 84' and the channel member 86, respectively,permit the gauge blocks to be tilted to an inoperative positionoutwardly away from the path of movement of the tubes 1 by the actuatingmeans during the interval said tubes are advanced to and from operativerelation The tilting of the gauge blocks 10 and beams 84 and 84' resultsfrom similar tilting of the respective gauge arms 99 and 90 (Fig. 8) towhich'they are attatched by the straps S7 and 87' and occurs when the;98 and 93' extending through holes in the operating arm 91-from thegauge arms 90 and 90', respectively, and which keep said arms 90 and 90'seated against depending buttons 99 at the end of the operating arm 91.Athird helical spring 1th) bearing against the top surface of theoperating arm 91 anda nut 1M on a stud 1&2 extending up from the channelmember 86 through openingsin the gauge arms 98 and9tl and the operatingarm 91,.keeps said operating arm 91 tilted so that the screw 103, at theend thereof and extending through openings inthe gauge arms 90 and 90',seats-against the projecting stud 92 on shaft 93. Other portions of theactuating means, which have the function of timing the operation of theothertwo taper gauges in addition to the taper gauge presentlydescribed, comprise an interconnected system for transferring the camactuated motion of a lever 104 (Fig. 1) located adjacent a portion ofthe shaft 35 protruding beyond the end frame portion 20 opposite to thatshown in Fig. 1 A cam (not shown) fastened :to the shaft'35 ata pointadjacent the opposite frame portion and shaped like the cam-105 bringsabout the travel thereof.

movement'of the lever 104 byturning 'different 'peripheria l portionsinto engagement with roller 106011 said lever 104,-with theresult that,said lever 104 is turnedabout the-pin 107. A push rod 108 transfers'themotion of lever -104to-the crank 109 which, in turn, causes rotation ofthe intermediate shaft 110 in the bearing 111 on the column 57, andturning of the crank 112. A bar 113 (-Figs.=6'and 9) connects the crank112 to a crank 114 upon-the projecting end of the shaft 93 which isjournalled in the side flanges of the channel member 86.

The operative interval of the described taper gauge, during which itcompares the size of the two portions of the tube 1 between the twopairs of gauge blocks 10 and 11, occurs when the shaft 93 isturned'momentarilyso astoforcetheoperating arm 91 in a direction awayfrom said tube '1 and, through the respective springs 97, 97

and studs 98, 98', effect a corresponding motion in the gauge arms 90,90 and the beams 84, 84'. This motion of the gauge advances both movablegauge blocks 10, 10 against portions of the tube 1 directly over thestationary gauge blocks 11, 11 which have raised said tube '1 from thebase of the pocket 5 in the conveyor 2 because of their shape andposition in relation to the direction of If both movable gauge blocks10, -10 move to the same relation to the stationary gauge blocks 11, 11,as is the case when both portions of the tube I contacted thereby are ofthe same size, both gauge arms 90 and 90' will move correspondingly andno further function will occur in the taper gauge. On the other 'hand,should the movable gauge blocks 10, 10 contact different size portionsof the tube 1, the gauge arms 90 and 90 will be displaced differentamounts and one or the other of the totally enclosed switches 115 and115 located upon the ends thereof will be actuated upon a predeterminedminimum difference in the degree of such displacement. Each switch 115or 115 is mounted upon an upstanding flange 116 or 116 on one of thegauge arms90 or 99 and has the operating button thereof directly belowan adjusting screw 117 or 117 of a portion of the flange 116' or 116extending from the opposite gauge arm 90' or 96. Accordingly, anydifference in the movement ofeither of the gauge arms 99 and 90' willcausethe adjusting screw 117 or 117 associated with the further movingarm 90 or 9% to push the operating button on the switch 115' or 115 onthe opposite arm 90 or 99 so thatanelectrical control circuittherethrough is completed. This electrical control circuit, as will'beexplained, is arranged in combination with the corresponding means ofthe other gauges of the taper gauging means and will effect thedischarge of the tapered tubes l-at station-C. in order to prevent afalse condition'in the actuating and size comparing means which isdifferent from that-found by the movement of the beams'84 and .84,relatively stiff plates 118 are fastened to opposite sides of the middleportions of the straps 87 and 87 to and 84"of the first taper gauge, butdoes not differ otherwise therefrom. The actuating and size comparingmeans 120 of the present full-span taper gauge is a duplicate of thatassociated with thefirst half-span taper gauge and similarly completesan electrical control circuit when a tapering tube 1 is discovered.

The next gaugeof the taper gauging means along the course of movement ofthe conveyor is again a half-span gauge and corresponds exactly to thefirst half-span gauge except that it is arranged to compare the sizes ofthe center and the 'opposite endportion of the tube 1 gauged by saidfirst gauge. The actuating and size comparing means 123 (Fig. 6) of thissecond half-span taper gauge is operated in combination with thefull-span taper gauge by a bar 124 connecting the corresponding cranks114, 125 and 126 of all three gauges of the taper gauge means. A helicalspring 127 located between crank 126 and a fastening attached to thechannel member 86 assists in returning the interconnected operatingsystem to cause the roller 106 (Fig. 1) on the lever 104- to follow thecontour of the operating cam (corresponding to cam 105) of said system.

The rejection of those tubes 1 found to taper excessively by any one ofthe three gauges of the taper gauging means and effected when said tubes1 are advanced to station C, must necessarily be initiated some timeafter said tapering tubes 1 have closed one or the other of the circuitcontrolling switches 115 or 115' in the actuating and size comparingmeans of each gauge. The delay in the case of each taper gauge mustcorrespond to its distance from station C and, accordingly, the switches115 and 115 of each gauge are arranged to control separate circuits tothe time delay device 65 (Fig. 4) in the manner of the switches 51-51 ofthe oversize gauge means and, at the appropriate interval thereafter,circuits are controlled by the time delay device 65 which actuate an airvalve (corresponding to the valve 66) connected to an air cylinder 128of the tube rejected means at station C. The air valve, the air cylinder128 and the movable fingers 129 represent parts of tube rejecting meansduplicating the rejecting means located at station B and which swingsthe fingers 129 into the path of movement of the tubes 1 so as to causesaid tubes to be pushed onto the incline 12. Inasmuch as the presentlyreferred to rejecting means is constructed like that means at station Bno further reference is made thereto.

The next operation occurring to the tubes 1 carried by the conveyor 2 isbrought about after said tubes 1 have been advanced over the top of themachine and are moving down in the leg of said conveyor 2 constitutingthe back face of the machine. At that time, the tubes 1 passsuccessively to operative relation to six size gauging means, eachcomprised of a pair of duplicating gauges arranged to engage theopposite end portions of said tubes 1 previously engaged by the oversizeand taper gauging means and adjusted to discover and effect the ejectionof progressively smaller size tubes at an adjacent station, E to Iinclusive. All the six size gauging means operate simultaneously duringa moment when the conveyor 2 holds respective tubes 1 between thecooperating movable and stationary gauge blocks 13 and 14 of each of thepair of gauges 1330 (Figs. and 11) thereof and, in operating, bring themovable gauge blocks 13 down to specific relation to the stationaryblocks 14 or into engagement with a tube 1 should said tube be of a sizeto be ejected from the conveyor 2 as being within a specific size range.

The details of operation can best be understood when reference is madeto the size gauging means located adjacent station G and appearing inFigs. 10 and 11. As shown, the three chains 6 comprising the conveyor 2at such times ride upon the straight edges of angle bars 131 mountedbetween the end frame portions 20 and, accordingly, follow apredetermined course of movement in relation to each of the size gaugingmeans 139. In the course of the advance of the conveyor 2 past eachgauging means, opposite end portions of the tube 1 pass up onto theedges of the stationary gauge blocks 14 and, in so doing, are separatedfrom all portions of said conveyor 2 which could interfere with theproper examination thereof by the gauging means. The movable gauge block13 located opposite each stationary gauge block 14 in each of the gaugesis fastened to an adjustable mounting arm 132 on the carriage 133 andtakes its mobility because of the flexibility of flat metal strips 134and 135 which extend from opposite ends of said carriage 133 to 1Ospaced portions of one arm of the U-shaped frame 136. The flexibility ofthe fiat strips 134 and 135 in a direction perpendicular to the courseof movement of the tube l provides for the gauge block 13 to be moved toand from an exactly controlled relation to the stationary gauge block 14on the opposite arm of the U-shaped frame 136. Normally the expansionforce of a helical spring 137 located between a heel plate 138 on saidcarriage 133 and one arm of a bracket 139 clamping the strip 134 to theframe 136 forces said gauge block 13 towardthe stationary gauge block 14to the limit determined by the engagement of the end of screw 140 insaid heel plate 138 with the end of operating lever 141. The advancingmovement of the gauge block 13 toward the tube 1 and the stationarygauge block 14 results when the arm 142 and the screw 143 of actuatingmeans are moved in a direction away from the operating lever 141 andsaid operating lever 141 is turned about the pivot pin 144 projectingbeyond the side of the frame 136 under the expansion force of thehelical spring 145 located between an end portion of operating lever 141and an adjacent portion of the frame 136. This advancing motion of thegauge block 13 reaches the specific limit for the particular gauge 130when the end of the operating lever 141 seats against the end of theadjusting screw 146 on the bracket 147 extending from the frame 136.However, during all periods of operation of the machine excepting themoments when the gauges 130 are operating, the actuating means is incontrol of the position of the gauge block 13 and the shafts 148 and143', which are located adjacent the gauges 130 on opposite ends of themachine, are turned so that the arm 142 adjacent each gauge 130 bearsagainst the operating lever 141 thereof. The timed movements of theactuating means associated with the shaft 143' result from engagement ofirregularities in the edge of the cam 105 (Figs. 1 and 10) with a roller149 on one end of the lever 151) so that said lever 150, which isconnected to said shaft 148' by the rod 151' and crank 152', turns saidshaft 148' about supporting brackets 153 extending from the machineframe 20 in accordance with its motion about a pin 154 retained by saidframe 20. The shaft 148 associated with the gauges 136 adjacent theopposite end of the machine is actuated by a duplicate cam (not shown)upon the opposite end of the shaft 35 from cam 165 and by duplicateparts correspondingly numbered to those associated with shaft 148'. Ifthe size of the tube 1 is smaller and therefore not within the rangeselected by any one of the six size gauging means, the movable gaugeblocks 14 thereof do not seat upon said tube 1 at the limit of themovement of the operating levers 141 as is deter-mined by the seating ofsaid levers 141 against the end of the adjusting screws 146. Tubes 1within said selected size range, on the other hand, obstruct themovement of one or both the gauge blocks 13 and prevent one or both ofthe carriages 133 and screws from following the full motion of operatinglevers 141. In the latter instance, either or both of the gauges 130 ofthe size gauging means provide for the ejection of the tube 1 at theimmediately following station along the conveyor 2 by the completion ofan electrical control circuit initiated by the independent portion ofthe movement of the operating levers 141 thereof which motion carriesthem against the control buttons 155 of totally enclosed switches 156mounted upon laterally extending wings of the carriages 133. Theswitches 156, representing a part of the size measuring means of thepair of gauges 130 of each size gauging means, are connected in parallelin the control circuit in the manner of the switches 51 and 51 (Fig. 4)shown in combination with oversize gauging means and, as in saidcombination, are connected to the time delay device 65 which effectsoperation of an air valve (not shown) and the air cylinder 157 ofejection means associated therewith. The gauges 130 are especiallysuited for adjustment to very critical limits, in part because all '1 1free motion of the lever 141 on the pin 144 is eliminated by thepressure of a helical spring 158 located between the side of operatinglever 141 and an overhanging-bracket 139extending from the frame 136 andbecause duplicate fixed guards 159 (only one being shown) are providedon opposite sides of the carriage 133 to prevent its accidentaldisplacement and damage to the spring leaves 134135 and other associatedmeans. The guards 159 are formed by projecting portions of the frame136. Further accuracy is assured in the gauges 130 by having the movingand stationary gauge blocks 13 and 14 mounted upon the opposite legs ofthe U-shaped frame 136 so that they can more easily be maintained at theproper relation and be examined and tested at a location away from themachine.

Each of the size gauging means controls ejecting means having an aircylinder 157 arranged to rotate a shaft 160 through its engagement withan arm 161 thereon so as to force a pair of fingers 162 against and intothe pat of movement of the tubes 1 to cause said tubes 1 to bedischarged from the conveyor 2. The tubes 1 so discharged fall onto oneor the other of the inclines 15 at the stations D, E, F, G, H and Iwhich direct them to convenient collecting means. Normally all tubes 1have been ejected from the conveyor 2 by the time it passes station Iand is directed around the sprockets 23 and to the front face of themachine for a repeat cycle of operation. The

tubes not ejected are dropped from the conveyor 2 as it passes aroundthe sprockets 23 and can be caught in a container (not shown) locatedbeside the machine.

Although the invention has been disclosed in a preferred embodiment, itshould be understood it is not to be limited thereto but that it may bevaried as to the specific construction and arrangements of parts withinthe spirit and scope of said invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. Apparatus for automatically gauging and sorting tubes or rodscomprising a conveyor adapted to advance the tubes individually in aside-by-side relation along a course of movement, taper gauging meanslocated along the conveyor and comprising a pair of gauges havingopposed movable and stationary cooperating gauge blocks on respectivesides of the course of movement of the conveyor and arranged tosimultaneously engage spaced portions of a tube on the conveyor, a pairof oppositely arranged levers in substantially end-to-end relation withthe movable gauge blocks mounted upon the remote ends thereof, meanssupporting each of said levers from the conveyor support at a pointintermediate its ends for pivotal movement thereabout, actuating meansengaging the proximate ends of the levers for pivoting said levers tocause the gauge blocks thereon to advance toward and move away from thestationary gauge blocks, and control means responsive to a predeterminedminimum difference in displacement of said levers and movable blockstoward the associated stationary blocks resulting from excessive taperin the tube, ejecting means located at a station farther along theconveyor for causing a tube having excessive taper to be removed fromthe conveyor thereat, and means connecting said ejecting means with saidcontrol means to be actuated thereby.

2. Apparatus for automatically gauging and sorting tubes or rodscomprising a conveyor adapted to advance the tubes separately in theside-by-side relation along a course of movement, taper gauging meanslocated along the conveyor and comprising a pair of gauges havingopposed movable and stationary cooperating gauge blocks on respectivesides of the course of movement of the conveyor and arranged tosimultaneously engage spaced portions of a tube on the conveyor, a pairof oppositely arranged levers in substantially end-to-end relation withthe movable gauge blocks mounted upon the remote ends thereof, a rigidframe, pivots for the center portions of the levers each comprising aflexible strap in the form of a V with end and center portions attachedto the frame and the levers respectively, actuating means for each ofsaid levers and engaging the proximate ends of the levers for pivotingsaid levers to cause the gauge blocks thereon to advance toward and moveaway from the stationary gauge blocks, each of said lever actuatingmeans being moveable relative to the other, and control means responsiveto a predetermined minimum difference in displacement of said leveractuating means resulting from excessive taper in the tube, ejectingmeans located at a station farther along the conveyor for causing a tubehaving excessive taper to be removed from the conveyor thereat, andmeans connecting said ejecting means with said control means to beactuated thereby.

3. Apparatus for automatically gauging and sorting tubes or rodscomprising a conveyor adapted to advance the tubes separately in aside-by-side relation along a course of movement, taper gauging meanslocated along the conveyor and comprising a pair of gauges havingopposed movable and stationary cooperating gauge blocks on-respectivesides of the course of movement of the conveyor and arranged tosimultaneously engage spaced portions of a tube on the conveyor, a pairof oppositely arranged levers in substantially end-to-end relation withthe movable gauge blocks mounted upon the remote ends thereof, meanssupporting each of the said levers from the conveyor support at a pointintermediate its ends for pivotal movement thereahout, lever actuatingmeansconnected to the proximate ends of said levers for pivoting them tocause the gauge blocks thereon to advance toward and move away from thestationary gauge blocks, common actuating means connected to move boththe said lever actuating means in unison with provision for apredetermined amount of relative movement of either lever actuatingmeans with respect to the other and control means comprising a switchmounted on each lever actuating means, each said switch being arrangedto be operated by the lever actuating means carrying the other switchupon a predetermined minimum difference in dis placement thereofresulting from excessive taper in the tube, and ejecting means locatedat a station farther along the conveyor and connected to and actuated bythe said center means when one of the switches thereof is operated forcausing a tube having excessive taper to be removed from the conveyorthereat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,341,463 Hazard May 25, 1920 2,011,931 Dreyer Aug. 20, 1935 2,016,420Engst Oct. 8, 1935 2,219,155 Wilcox Oct. 22, 1940 2,352,507 Aller et a1.June 27, 1944 2,385,038 Snyder Sept. 18, 1945 2,525,050 Spicer et al.Oct. 10, 1950 2,531,317 Baney et al Nov. 21, 1950 2,569,564 Gulliet Oct.2, 1951

